Homer's Odyssey is one of the Greek epic poems that show extreme differences in foreigners. During Odysseus' travels he encounters many different peoples like the Cyclopes, Lotus Eaters, Laestrygonians, Phaiakians, and even minor gods and monsters. When we first see these peoples through the eyes of Odysseus, they are shown to be extremely different from the true Greeks, like Odysseus himself. ... Even though he makes some of the foreigners that Odysseus meets seem to be kind and good, they too have their imperfections, like Calypso is an adulteress and the Phaiakians are too civili...

• Word Count: 1036
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

It's true that Aeneas' wanderings in the beginning of the poem are reminiscent of the same perils that Odysseus faced on his journey home to Ithaca, such as Aeneas' encounter with the Harpies (3:245) and the Cyclopes (3:760). Aeneas then struggles to safely colonize the Trojans in Italy upon his arrival which mirrors Odysseus' rocky homecoming and slaughter of Penelope's suitors. ... However, as Anchises describes "the glory that awaits the Trojan race," (6:896) it becomes clear that this poem is anything but a piracy of Homer's epic. ...

• Word Count: 707
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate